Breastfeeding lemsip nightmare

[Kittyroo]

Just been looking on the lemsip website and it says I shouldn't take lemsip when breastfeeding even though there is no mention of it in the notes that come in the packet. Now really worried as have been taking it for about 3 days now.
Do you think I will have done any harm to my wee man?? I really hope not.

Don't panic! I'm sure you won't have done him any harm at all. They are very very cautious when it comes to babies and basically if it hasn't been tested and shown to be safe they say "don't take it".

When I was bf I replaced lemsip with hot honey and lemon taken with a couple of paracetamol. Almost as good and a whole lot cheaper!

It's phenylephrine in lemsip that they worry about - but honestly, it wouldn't worry me one bit :)

Check it out here:

toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT

The concern is not really the effect on the baby, but the possible effect of very high doses on the mother's milk supply.

"Don't take this while breastfeeding" really means "You can't sue us if you take this while breastfeeding, and anything at all goes wrong. Neener Neener Neener".

The BfN do some v informative leaflets on medications and breastfeeding, here including antihistamines and cough and cold remedies.

tiktok, just a quick q for you.

I have a suspicion I know you in rl because you are so lovely and I had a lovely lovely bf counseller when I had my DTs.

Are you a bf counsellor who is also Infant Feeding coordinator at the local large hospital beginning with T? does your first name begin with H?

(In a way hopes it is not same person as I like the idea that there is more than one person as fantastic as tiktok/my bf counsellor)

"Don't take this while breastfeeding" really means "You can't sue us if you take this while breastfeeding, and anything at all goes wrong. Neener Neener Neener".

true and it also means: "clinical studies on bf mothers and pregnant women are unethical and therefore not conducted at all. over time, however data will most likely show that it is ok." and " if you are bf, just dont take anything if you really dont need it"

Thanks all. really helpful. feeling bit grotty but will go and get honey and lemon instead. Can stop worrying for now though. thanks again.

I have taken lemsip and not worried - my milk supply is pretty robust!

Boots own brand lemsip-type drink doesn't contain any of the phenylephrine though - I took that instead while I was pregnant.